Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Extraterrestrials Visit Earth

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students compare the unique characteristics of Earth to other planets and then write descriptions of Earth that might attract fictional extraterrestrials to visit the planet. They design an appealing travel brochure that incorporates the...
Lesson Plan
1
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University of Colorado

Are All Asteroids' Surfaces the Same Age?

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
There are more than 600,000 asteroids in our solar system. Pupils analyze images of two asteroids in order to determine if they are the same age. They count craters for each asteroid and compare numbers. 
Website
American Museum of Natural History

One-on-One With The Sun

For Students 6th - 12th
Follow along as Stella Stardust interviews the sun. A fun and informative interview provides scholars with information about the sun. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Space, the Final Frontier...

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Students study a common theory on how the solar system was formed and examine the relative scale of the size and distances among the bodies of the Solar System.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Physics The Earth and Beyond

For Teachers 4th
Fourth graders will explore our solar system. In this physics lesson students create a model of the solar system to explore the movement of Earth, the Sun, and stars.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Starry Night Time and Day Time

For Teachers 2nd
Second graders complete a unit of lessons on the solar system. They complete various art projects inspired by Van Gogh's 'Starry Night,' create a moon phases book, create a moon phase wind chime, develop a timeline of space exploration,...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

What Do You Know About Astronomy

For Students 6th - 12th
Develop an understanding of the universe. Learners answer 10 multiple choice questions about several topics in astronomy. Questions contain information about the age of the universe, gravitational attraction, galaxies, planets and comets...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beyond the Earth Part II

For Teachers 4th - 7th
Students explore the solar system. In this solar system lesson, students use Internet and print resources to research a component of the solar system. Students create travel brochures based on their research findings.
Lesson Plan
1
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Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Growing Up With A Mission

For Teachers 3rd - 6th Standards
New Horizons began its journey to Pluto in 2006. Ten years later, it continues its mission. In that time, scholars have surely grown, but how much more will they grow by the time New Horizons reaches its destination? Find out with an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Toilet Paper Solar System

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Students create a model of the distances of the planets in the solar system using sheets of toilet paper and markers. Generally accepted orbital parameters are applied.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Beyond The Earth Part I

For Teachers K - 4th
Learners explore the solar system. In this space science lesson, students take notes on the solar system provided by their instructors. Learners then collaborate to design a computer-generated drawing of the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Windows to the Universe Scavenger Hunt

For Teachers 6th - 9th
Students access the Internet to go on a scavenger hunt to investigate the solar system.  In this space mission lessons students fill out a worksheet  and explain how technology and scientific inquiry have helped us learn about...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reaching the Solar System

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students sing the Rap of the Solar System, view pictures of the planets, and calculate their weights and ages on all the planets and the sun. They create a presentation comparing themselves with a planet or object in the solar system.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Let's Build a City In the Solar System

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders explore the solar system. Using the Internet, 6th graders gather information about planets in our solar system. Students participate in an activity to determine where they should build the first city in space. They create a...
Organizer
Curated OER

Our Solar System

For Students 9th - Higher Ed
In this solar system worksheet, students complete a database comparing the 9 different planets' mass, surface temperature, rotation period, orbital period, moons, and distinguishing features. This worksheet is a graphic organizer.
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Observations From the Past

For Teachers 9th
Ninth graders explore direct and indirect evidence. In this astronomy lesson, 9th graders investigate the contribution of early astronomers to their field. They create a model of the solar system.
Unit Plan
Core Knowledge Foundation

Third Grade Skills Unit 7: What’s in Our Universe?

For Teachers 3rd Standards
Over four weeks, third graders participate in lessons that boost spelling, grammar, reading, and writing skills. Scholars explore spelling patterns, suffixes, singular and plural possessive nouns, quotations, and conjunctions....
Lesson Plan
1
1
Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics

Where Are We Going?

For Teachers 2nd - 6th Standards
Come take a ride on the space bus! Scholars go on an imaginary trip to pick up their peers from the inner and outer planets while reinforcing math skills. First, learners round decimals to identify each planets' distance from Earth....
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

The Engine of Life

For Teachers 5th - 11th Standards
There is a specific zone, or distance from a star, that a planet must be in order to have water in a liquid form. The activity demonstrates how flux density depends on its distance from the source. A photovoltaic cell gets power to...
Interactive
American Museum of Natural History

What is Astronomy?

For Students 6th - 12th
Go study the universe. Pupils learn seven aspects about astronomy and astronomers. They begin to learn about constellations; distance and motion between objects; gravity; the electromagnetic spectrum; dark matter and energy; and teams of...
Lesson Plan
Kentucky Educational Television

The Road to Proportional Reasoning

For Teachers 6th - 8th Standards
Just how big would it really be? Young mathematicians determine if different toys are proportional and if their scale is accurate. They solve problems relating scale along with volume and surface area using manipulatives. The...
Printables
Research Parent

Universe Cards

For Students 3rd - 8th Standards
A 9-page packet comes with 24 cards that have pictures and informational text about each object in the universe. From nebulae to dwarf planets, objects we see—or don't see—are represented in the cards through pictures and words.
Lesson Plan
Space Awareness

Global Warming of the Atmosphere

For Teachers 7th - 9th Standards
Scientists know the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere today is higher than at any point in the last 800,000 years. Scholars learn about the amount of thermic radiation absorbed by air and what happens to the rest of the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Finding Out About the Stars and Planets

For Teachers K - 4th
Pupils complete a web-based activity to study the planets and solar system. Students complete a number of activities including a slide show that depict the true facts about planets.